SACRAMENTO, CA – On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 573 into law. Assemblymember Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) introduced this legislation in partnership with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to improve enforcement of the statewide ban on flavored tobacco products.
"Despite new laws to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products, too many kids are still accessing and getting hooked on these addictive products," said Assemblymember Rogers. "AB 573 will create funding for more proactive enforcement that will ensure retailers that still carry flavored tobacco products are held accountable and come into compliance with the law."
AB 573 would increase the fees that tobacco retailers pay each year from $265 to a minimum of $450 a year, with the option to raise that fee up to $600, to maintain and enhance enforcement operations at the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). CDTFA is currently only able to visit 11% of tobacco retailers each year and, without additional funding from the state tobacco license, those inspection numbers will continue to decline. Increasing the fee will improve CDTFA's ability to identify bad actors in the retail landscape and to target its enforcement efforts more effectively.
Additionally, AB 573 commissions a study of the tobacco retailer enforcement landscape to make recommendations for better coordination amongst the various enforcing agencies as well as an appropriate fee to ensure maximum compliance of all California's retailers.
According to the 2024 California Youth Tobacco Survey, 84.5% of high school tobacco users reported using flavored products. Illegal flavored e-cigarettes still comprise 31.3% of total e-cigarette sales in California and disposable e-cigarettes represent 93.9% of sales of prohibited flavored e-cigarettes in California. In 2024, 18.9% of California tobacco retailers still sold tobacco to underage buyers.
"The friends I once knew are now addicted," said Daphne Perez Ruiz, a student from Santa Rosa testifying on AB 573 in Senate Health Committee on behalf of the Latino Service Providers. "It's heartbreaking to see so many of my other classmates in the same situation. They struggle with mental health, but instead of seeking help, help from a counselor or trusted adult, they turn to vapes because it's the easy way out. They're cheap. It's scary how normal it's become."
More effective retail licensing enforcement will reduce the availability of flavored tobacco products and prevent young people from getting addicted to tobacco.
"We are grateful for Assemblymember Rogers' leadership in helping counter the tobacco industry's relentless targeting of kids by ensuring that CDTFA can sustain its current compliance operations," said Alexandria Felton, Regional Advocacy Director for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "CDTFA's new authority to seize and destroy flavored tobacco products is a powerful tool and AB 573 provides the funding needed to protect kids and hold bad actors responsible for their actions."
"We are grateful to California legislators for their steadfast commitment to protecting our youth from the dangers of tobacco and safeguarding public health," said Jamie Morgan, Region Senior Director of Advocacy, American Heart Association. "AB 573 delivers the critical funding needed to ensure the CDTFA can continue seizing flavored tobacco products and strengthen enforcement operations. This will empower the agency to hold bad actors accountable and stop the flow of illegal products into our communities."
"It's unacceptable that tobacco retailers keep breaking the law and selling illegal, highly addictive flavored tobacco products, especially to kids. Regular inspections are critical to hold them accountable. We applaud the state Legislature for stepping up to protect our communities from the dangers of tobacco use," said Jen Grand-Lejano, Pacific Region Managing Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).
"The continued sale of illegal flavored tobacco products in California is putting our youth at risk of a lifetime of addiction," said Kesa Bruce, Advocacy Director for the American Lung Association. "AB 573 is necessary to strengthen programmatic efforts and enforcement at CDTFA and ensure retailers are held accountable for violating the law."
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Chris Rogers was elected to the State Assembly in 2024. As the Assemblymember for the Second Assembly District, he represents Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity counties. Learn more about Assemblymember Rogers here.
